Manipur - (60)

Abhay Singh, SP, Gosaiganj (Faizabad)

In jail on murder charges (of a former CMO), just one of the 18 criminal cases against his name, Abhay Singh, 39, has hopped on the Samajwadi cycle from the BSP’s elephant. In defense of his candidature, the SP spokesperson Rajendra Choudhary described him as a person with "a very clean character.” A self confessed book lover who reads Ramdhari Singh Dinkar and Munshi Premchand, Singh’s other interests include wrestling and cricket. He began his political career as a student of Luckow University from where he graduated in 1994. Singh has the distinction of being behind bars during the SP, BSP and BJP’s regimes but enjoys a Robinhood image in his constituency because of his promptness to ‘help’ his constituency members. Though his campaign was managed by his wife Sarita, a member of the Zila Panchayat who went around asking for the life of her ‘suhag’, the candidate himself took to Facebook to put across his thoughts. Unsurprisingly his activity denoted more of his love for Hindi film music than any plans for his poverty struck constituency.

Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, BJP,Thailsain

Former Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’, is contesting from the Thailsain constituency of Uttarakhand on BJP ticket. There have been a slew of corruption charges against Pokhriyal and his government which led to his removal as CM by BJP's central committee. He was elected to the UP assembly for the first time in 1991 from Karnaprayag and reelected in 1993 and 1996 from the same constituency. In 1997, he became minister for Uttaranchal Development in the Uttar Pradesh state government. In 2002, he contested the Uttaranchal vidhan sabha election from the Thalisain constituency but lost. In 2007 he contested from the same constituency, this time successfully.

Agnelo Fernandes, Congress, Calangute

Agnelo Fernandes is INC candidate from Calangute. With no criminal case against him, 44-year-old Agnelo is all set to give a tough fight to his contenders. An MA from Madhurai Kamaraj University in 2005, his total assets are pegged at Rs 10 crore. He also has an MA Diploma in Computer Programming and Data Analysis. As chairman, Candolim Sports and Cultural Trust, Agnelo has special interest in environmental issues. In his leisure time, he loves to read books. Other than this, he takes special interest in football and martial arts. As president, Candolim Sports Club, he has visited UK, Europe, Gulf, United States, Hong Kong, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, Malaysia and Thailand.

Ravinder Dhariwal, PPP, Moga

Ravinder Dhariwal, 41, quit his job as a corporate affairs manager at Nestle to jump into the hurly burly of elections from Moga as the PPP candidate. He was moved by the pitiable condition of farmers in an area where lands are fertile. A MBA and a BSC graduate in veterinary sciences, Dhariwal is considered a rare combination. He saw a ray of hope when Manpreet Badal laid out his new agenda. Since joining politics, he has been working among the farmers even though the number of voters from this rural constituency is less than in Moga town.

O. Ibobi Singh, Congress,Thoubal constituency

O. Ibobi Singh, chief minister of Manipur is contesting from the Thoubal constituency. Singh, who has been at the helm for two consecutive terms, is credited with bringing political stability in Manipur. His terms have been marked by agitations, ethnic conflicts, fake encounters and a 121-day economic blockade, but somehow, he has managed to check the slide. But these polls are an acid test for him. Five parties - NCP, RJD, CPM, JD (U) and Manipur People's Party (MPP) - have come together against him. He has total assets of Rs 71 lakhs.